Although no other Ashland city commissioner was willing to join Commissioner Cheryl Spriggs in supporting her proposal to move the time of one of the two commission meetings each month from 7 p.m. to noon, we think the idea has merit and deserves further discussion.
Spriggs — who has opted to run for the 100th District seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives instead of a third, two-year term on the Ashland Board of City Commissioners — proposed the first monthly meeting of the month start at noon. The commission currently meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
Spriggs said she believes an afternoon meeting would allow residents who rely on public transportation to attend as well as individuals who may work evening shifts. The Ashland Bus System stops running at 6 p.m.
More city employees, who are in the building during the day, would also be able to attend, she said. Spriggs said she has been approached by several residents who support the change.
We’re not so sure that the ability to ride the bus to and from the meetings is going to do much, if anything, to encourage attendance at the commission meetings, but Spriggs’ idea may attract those unable to attend the evening meetings. Like most public meetings, city commission meetings usually are poorly attended and anything that would encourage more public interest and participation is worth trying.
While not willing to immediately vote in favor of the time change, at least some other commissioners expressed a degree of support for the Spriggs’ proposal.
Commissioner Kevin Gunderson said he thought Spriggs made a good point as far as the bus service not running in the evenings. Although he ultimately voted against a motion to change the meetings, he initially proposed having a new meeting ordinance drafted and debated by the commission. That would at least allow citizen input on the idea.
Commissioner Marty Gute also voted against the change but said first, “I don’t have a problem with it.” He expressed concern that it would diminish the quality of the commission’s discussions if a member of the commission was routinely unable to attend the noon meeting because of work obligations.
Commissioner Larry Brown was the only commissioner to adamantly oppose Spriggs’ idea. He said his job at Kentucky Power would prevent him from attending all the noon meetings. He said the meetings have been at 7 p.m. for decades and that he believed fewer residents would be able to attend because they work.
A few years ago, Boyd Fiscal Court experimented with moving one meeting a month to the evening. We supported the idea because we believed it would encourage more citizen participation. But it didn’t, and the idea was abandoned after a few poorly attended evening meetings.
Well, we think Spriggs’ idea is worth a try. If after a few months, the daytime meetings fail to encourage more citizen participation, the commission could return to only meeting in the evening. However, this is a community where people work around the clock. More flexibility in meeting times could encourage those who work at night to take a more active interest in city government.
Spriggs — who has opted to run for the 100th District seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives instead of a third, two-year term on the Ashland Board of City Commissioners — proposed the first monthly meeting of the month start at noon. The commission currently meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
Spriggs said she believes an afternoon meeting would allow residents who rely on public transportation to attend as well as individuals who may work evening shifts. The Ashland Bus System stops running at 6 p.m.
More city employees, who are in the building during the day, would also be able to attend, she said. Spriggs said she has been approached by several residents who support the change.
We’re not so sure that the ability to ride the bus to and from the meetings is going to do much, if anything, to encourage attendance at the commission meetings, but Spriggs’ idea may attract those unable to attend the evening meetings. Like most public meetings, city commission meetings usually are poorly attended and anything that would encourage more public interest and participation is worth trying.
While not willing to immediately vote in favor of the time change, at least some other commissioners expressed a degree of support for the Spriggs’ proposal.
Commissioner Kevin Gunderson said he thought Spriggs made a good point as far as the bus service not running in the evenings. Although he ultimately voted against a motion to change the meetings, he initially proposed having a new meeting ordinance drafted and debated by the commission. That would at least allow citizen input on the idea.
Commissioner Marty Gute also voted against the change but said first, “I don’t have a problem with it.” He expressed concern that it would diminish the quality of the commission’s discussions if a member of the commission was routinely unable to attend the noon meeting because of work obligations.
Commissioner Larry Brown was the only commissioner to adamantly oppose Spriggs’ idea. He said his job at Kentucky Power would prevent him from attending all the noon meetings. He said the meetings have been at 7 p.m. for decades and that he believed fewer residents would be able to attend because they work.
A few years ago, Boyd Fiscal Court experimented with moving one meeting a month to the evening. We supported the idea because we believed it would encourage more citizen participation. But it didn’t, and the idea was abandoned after a few poorly attended evening meetings.
Well, we think Spriggs’ idea is worth a try. If after a few months, the daytime meetings fail to encourage more citizen participation, the commission could return to only meeting in the evening. However, this is a community where people work around the clock. More flexibility in meeting times could encourage those who work at night to take a more active interest in city government.
